Comments on: Don’t Walk

By: Sophia

Sophia — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 04:13:38 +0000

It’s been a long time since anyone has commented on this post, but Kate recently linked to it, and I just had to add that we’ve had TWO nests on our front porch! One year, a house finch built a nest in one of our hanging plants. We kept tabs on the eggs and the hatchlings whenever we watered the plant. One day, though, when I took the plant down to water it, the chicks got scared and all jumped out of the nest! I hope they were old enough to survive.

More recently, we had a robin nest on our Easter wreath right outside the front door. We could watch the nest from a nearby window. The mother robin never attacked us, but she would make a lot of noise if we got close. The chicks hatched around Easter time. Very inspiring. ^^

By: Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:36:52 +0000

Lavelle, baby robins fly at about 13 days after they hatch. After all the babies have left the nest the adults will be focused on the babies’ locations. I know this sounds dumb but you could try using an open umbrella to shade yourself from attack in the meantime. It won’t be for long.
After the nest is totally unoccupied for 2-3 days, cover the lamp top area with a plastic garbage bag or something to make it unappealing to the mother robin. Make sure it has no flat place on which to rebuild the nest. She will look for a new site as soon as her first brood are able to feed themselves – or until they succumb to cats/hawks. It takes her only 2-3 days to construct a new nest.
The bag – or whatever you use – will look dumb but it will force the mother to build elsewhere. You might want to keep the bag in place for the rest of the season or figure out a tasteful way to make the lamp permanently unappealing to robins. Mother robin is looking for a flat spot with an overhang.

By: "Joe"

"Joe" — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:38:50 +0000

I read once that there were seven birds that did not walk. One was a humming bird and an other i can remember was a Kingfisher. Like to know of others. Thanks.

By: Lavelle

Lavelle — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:53:44 +0000

Hi Kate,

We have a robin’s nest outside our kitchen patio door, on top of the lamp post. This is our main access to our patio, and the kids playset. Although we knew the nest was there, and it was great observation for the kids, the eggs have now hatched and we are the prey to our Predator Mother Robin!

I’ve been attacked at least three times trying to water the flowers on the patio (this was before I knew the eggs has hatched). Others people using the patio have been attacked. I’m afraid for the kids to go outside for fear they’ll be attacked.

Wondering how much longer we will be shut out from access to the backyard? It’s Memorial Weekend, and we’re afraid to go out back. The kids can’t swing or slide.

Also, once the baby birds fly away, what do I do with the nest? And how can I prevent them from coming back and nesting next spring?

This is driving me crazy!

By: Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:10:03 +0000

Sadly, robins often pick unfortunate places to nest. You did the best you could. If they were close to fledging & flew to the bushes they may be fine.

By: Meagan

Meagan — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:03:53 +0000

We have a wreath on our door that a mother robin, who was fully preggos and ready to lay her eggs, moved into right away. Unfortionately, she must have been desparate for a place b/c that door was pretty well trafficked. I put up a sign, not to use the door and to call, beep horn or knock on backdoor.

The nesting seemed to be going well. I was able to keep a watch on the progress from the window above. Everyone was so careful not to disturb her. So she layed a clutch of 4 and then this morning, stupid jerk from FedEx came by POUNDING on the door for me to sign his note pad. I was in the shower when this happened. I was so furious. I threw on a robe and ran out through my OPENED garage and said “can’t you see we have baby birds?? Why cant you read the sign clearly stating not to use that door???” He just shrugged, said, umm,sorry. Need yer signature…

Those sweet little babies are now gone, the nest cleared. I looked around the whole yard for them, no birds. The mother is still lurking in the trees crying and I tried to see if she could let me know what became of them. I f I could put them back in the nest. I dont know, this is so very upsetting and just tradgic.

By: Veronica Snyder

Veronica Snyder — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:01:30 +0000

Last year, an American Robin decided to build her nest in our metal awning right outside our front door. She flew off to a nearby shrub every time we opened the door, but we tried our best to not disturb her. She successfully raised two chicks there – the poor things barely fit in the little nest by the time they were ready to fledge! Needless to say, she chose another location for her subsequent clutch(es) that year!

On a similar note, we used to have a mailbox under that same awning that was mounted on the side of the house within about 6 inches of the front door. It was the kind that is open on top so you can just drop the mail in, but with no lid. Many years ago a Carolina Wren decided that was the place to be and built her nest inside the mailbox. After we discovered she was building a nest there – and she was determined to build it, too, regardless of disruption by mail or efforts to deter her – we had the mailman temporarily hand us the mail instead of putting it in the box. I don’t remember exactly how many babies she had, but she successfully reared about 2-3 babies in that nest and would fly off to a nearby shrub and fuss at us like crazy every time we opened the door!

By: Gail Meister

Gail Meister — Mon, 11 May 2009 22:53:36 +0000

There is a red tail hawk nest on rt. 148 in McKeesport. I have seen her feeding some youngsters but can not tell how many there are.

There is also a red tail on Homestead Duquesne Road along side of the railroad tracks. There is some youngsters there but I have not been there lately to see how many.

By: kristaboozer

kristaboozer — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:02:37 +0000

I was in line at Canada’s Wonderland to go on a roller coaster, and saw Mama Robin nesting on a ledge of one of the steel beams holding up the ride. Every few minutes it would shudder like crazy when the coaster went by … I felt so bad for those babies.

By: Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:58:50 +0000

Many people have robins nesting quite near them. Your robin may have chosen the fire escape because it thought, “With so many noisy people around the crows and snakes won’t come and steal my babies.” It was counting on the presence of humans for protection.

The robin has no reason to attack you and will certainly not do so if you pass by peacefully. I have never seen a robin attack someone but if you persist in trying to frighten it, who knows? Are you afraid of birds? If you pass by quietly you will be less agitated and so will the robin.

p.s. You are correct that it is illegal to disturb nests and eggs.